There’s no denying streaming has gotten expensive, and an endless array of competing services means more and more money is going from your pockets into the hands of streamers. But fear not, there are still plenty of great movies to be found in the world of free streaming.
Streaming services like ITVX, Plex, Channel 4, Freevee, and BBC iPlayer provide a veritable buffet of cinema for you to enjoy, all for the grand cost of 0 pounds. The lone exception is BBC iPlayer, which requires a TV licence, but there are no additional fees to use the service beyond that.
For most of these services, all you need is a name and email address to sign up, and some, like Plex, don’t even require you to register. And if you’re abroad, you can access many of these films by using a VPN such as NordVPN. We have specific watch guides for iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4.
The King of Comedy
Starring Robert DeNiro as wannabe comedian Rupert Pupkin, Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy is one of the great directors’ best films. Scorsese’s film is a scorching satire and darkly funny as it follows Pupkin, who plots to kidnap a late-night TV host (Jerry Lewis) to catapult himself to fame.
Proving a major influence on Todd Phillips’ Joker, Scorsese’s underrated classic is a fascinating insight into our fame-obsessed culture that’s only become more relevant as time goes on.
Watch The King of Comedy on Plex
Incendies
Denis Villeneuve has become one of the most beloved directors with big sci-fi blockbusters like Dune and Arrival. One of his best films, Incendies, was made in Villeneuve’s native Quebec before he made it big in Hollywood.
Two twins, Jeanne (Mélissa Désmormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) travel from Canada to the Middle East to find the brother they never knew they had. Incendies is an Oscar-nominated mystery with a jaw-dropping twist and showcases how Villeneuve has become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after directors.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes now in cinemas, it’s a great time to catch up with the previous trilogy in the franchise, which began with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Rise offers great world-building and tremendous visual effects as it follows scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) and his groundbreaking discovery of an advanced ape.
You may not expect big Hollywood movies to be available to stream for free, and Rise is just one of the great blockbusters available on ITVX.
Watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes on ITVX
The Truman Show
What would you do if you found out every moment of your life was being watched all over the world? That’s the concept of the fantastic The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey as Truman. This film is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, as it’s hilarious and full of heart.
It’s also a razor-sharp social commentary that grows increasingly prescient in the social media age, which offers seemingly unlimited access to other people. The cast is stacked, with Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti, and Ed Harris (Oscar-nominated for his role) alongside Carrey.
Mustang
One of the joys of free streaming is taking a chance on a film you may have never heard of before. The feature debut of Turkish director Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Mustang is a powerful story of five sisters who long for independence, but live under the strict guardianship of their grandmother, who is in the process of arranging marriages for each of them.
This is a film striking in its humanity, earning a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. A gorgeous coming-of-age story and a fantastic portrait of unbreakable sibling bonds, Mustang is not to be missed.
50/50
The relationship between best friends Kyle (Seth Rogen) and Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) changes forever when Adam gets diagnosed with cancer in 50/50. Most films about cancer are understandably downtrodden, but 50/50 approaches things with radiant optimism and a barrage of humor.
That’s not to say the film avoids the realities of such a life-altering diagnosis, but its take on the cancer movie is genuinely refreshing. It’ll break your heart, but it’ll make you laugh, too.
Aftersun
Maybe the most emotionally devastating movie of the last 10 years, Charlotte Wells bold debut Aftersun is a marvel. Set in the sunny landscapes of a Turkish holiday resort, young Sophie (Frankie Corio) vacations with her father Calum (Paul Mescal).
A meditation on family, memory, and mental health, both Corio and Mescal are absolutely dazzling, and their beautiful chemistry as father and daughter allow the film’s emotions to hit you that much harder. A perfect film for those in need of a good cry.
Rush
Director Ron Howard balances an engaging emotional story with high-octane thrills in Rush, which follows the rivalry between racers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl). Fans of Formula 1 will find plenty to admire here, from the period-specific details to the thrilling race sequences.
Even for those who don’t care for racing, Rush has plenty to offer for those with a competitive edge. However, get in quick as it’s only available to stream until 5 May.
Citizen Kane
The exploration of the life of a massively successful newspaper magnate is at the core of Citizen Kane, the masterpiece directed by and starring Orson Welles. Filled with cinematic innovations like deep-focus (courtesy of world-class cinematographer Gregg Toland) and jump cuts, it’s no surprise Citizen Kane has endured for over 80 years.
An absolute must for the film-obsessed, there’s a reason Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made.
Watch Citizen Kane on BBC iPlayer
Song of the Sea
Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon is behind some of the most dazzling traditional animation in recent years, and one of their finest films, Song of the Sea, is available for free. Ben and his sister Saorise go on a fantastical quest to save fairies and keep the spirit world at peace.
A perfect choice for family movie night, Song of the Sea is a satisfying and wholesome fantasy with some of animation’s best at the helm.
Author: Barry Levitt, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Barry Levitt is a freelance entertainment critic and his work can be found in The Daily Beast, Vulture, Empire Magazine, Rolling Stone, SlashFilm, InsideHook, LGBTQNation, Mashable, and more. He covers animation, streaming, queer cinema, and everything in between.